Fraudsters exploit crisis• with ‘despicable’ scams
FRAUDSTERS are exploiting the coronavirus crisis to target vulnerable victims.
Police Scotland have released figures today showing most forms of crime are down significantly as the country stays in lockdown.
However, there has been a 10 per cent spike in fraud cases, including many seeking to take advantage of the deadly pandemic.
Consumer experts are warning individuals and businesses to be on their guard against a growing number of scams.
One con, according to East Lothian Council, involves people going door to door pretending to be NHS workers collecting donations or offering to shop for money.
Fraudsters have also offered to spray paths and driveways with ‘anti-bacterial treatment’ for cash, the council said.
In the Highlands, businesses are receiving emails saying their grant has been cleared, as scammers try to get their bank details.
Marjorie Gibson, head of operations at consumeradvice.scot, said: ‘This kind of despicable behaviour will cause anxiety and stress at a time when so many are finding the lockdown difficult to cope with.
‘It’s sickening that rogue traders are looking to prey on the vulnerable during this crisis, and we urge everyone to be vigilant.’
Other scams include phishing HMRC texts promising coronavirus tax refunds, fake fines for breaching lockdown, and unsolicited calls offering a place on vaccine trials for a fee, according to Which? It said £1.2 billion was lost to fraud in the UK last year.
Gareth Shaw, head of money at Which?, said: ‘The coronavirus outbreak has created the perfect storm for scams, with fraudsters using callous tactics to exploit people’s fears and vulnerability for their own financial gain. Everyone should be extra cautious about clicking on links in any unsolicited emails and texts or answering calls.’
Police Scotland reported 8,686 incidents of fraud in 2019-20, an increase of almost 2,000 on the previous year, meaning it was already a growing problem.
Yesterday, however, the force said that since physical distancing measures had been put in place, fraud had increased by more than 10 per cent. A spokesman added: ‘There is some evidence that criminals are specifically exploiting the coronavirus public health emergency to commit offences.’
As officers continued patrols yesterday looking for people flouting the lockdown rules, Police Scotland said overall the restrictions had been good news for the force.
It said total recorded crime had fallen by around a quarter between restrictions being introduced on Tuesday, March 24, and Sunday, April 19 – almost four weeks later.
Serious assaults have reduced by around 40 per cent, while common assault has fallen by just over a quarter. Police have issued more than 1,600 fixed penalty notices for breaches of lockdown rules, and 78 people have been arrested under new laws making it illegal to ignore public health and distancing guidance aimed at stopping the spread of the virus.
But Deputy Chief Constable Fiona Taylor said: ‘This information covers a relatively short period of time and care must be taken to avoid assumptions about trends.
‘We are seeing, for example, a slight decrease in domestic abuse incidents but are acutely aware this may not reflect what is happening behind closed doors.’
The force said ‘public nuisance’ type incidents have more than doubled and now account for a fifth of all incidents.
‘Using callous tactics to exploit people’s fears and vulnerability’